Robots to the Rescue amid Doctor Shortage
February 27th, 2013 0 Min readIt's something right out of a sci-fi movie: A robot on wheels, reminiscent of R2D2 but with a human face, can be seen making rounds at a Los Angeles-area hospital.
While it appears to be thinking and acting on its own, the robot is actually being operated via remote control. The real doctor is somewhere else, perhaps at another hospital or even at home.
It's the latest advancement in tele-medicine, intended to extend a physician's reach. This is particularly useful for niche specialties, such as neurosurgery, where there are simply not enough to go around the country.
Of course, tele-medicine isn't the total answer to the doctor shortage, but it can be part of the solution. Other physician extenders helping fill staffing gaps include advanced-practice providers ad locum tenens.
To see the robo-doc in action, watch the CBS News video Robotics advance practice of tele-medicine.
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